Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) Treatment & Surgery

Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse.

Your elbow joint is a joint made up of three bones: your upper arm bone (humerus) and the two bones in your forearm (radius and ulna). There are bony bumps at the bottom of the humerus called epicondyles. The bony bump on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle. These lateral epicondylitis, involves the muscles and tendons of your forearm. Your forearm tendons, often called extensors , attaches on the lateral epicondyle.

Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from overuse — repeating the same motions again and again. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.

Although tennis elbow commonly affects tennis players, it also affects other athletes and people who participatess in leisure or work activities that require repetitive arm, elbow, wrist, and hand movement, especially while tightly gripping something.

Common symptoms of tennis elbow

Pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow

Weak grip strength

Treatment & Surgeries

Home remedies such as applying ice therapy over affected area

Anti Inflammatory drugs

Physiotherapy

Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) injection therapy

Joint lubrication injection (Viscosupplementation)

Shockwave therapy

H&L injection (Cortisone)

If your symptoms do not respond after 6 to 12 months of nonsurgical treatments, surgery may be recommended.

It is advised to seek professional advice from Dr Siow to provide appropriate treatment and rehabilitation program for you.